AMERICAN SALUTE

Updated on June 5, 2012

Source

By: Wayne Brown

Yet another Memorial Day passes into the history books here in this year 2012. Like all those before it, we, as a nation, pause to pay tribute to those who have served and paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country…their future and their life. Though we pause to recognize that effort on their part, we offer little in return and it seems that our gratitude and understanding of such a great sacrifice grows more calloused with time. Those who have worn those military boots and shoes know the honor of service but often spend their time dwelling on those who served but were not so lucky. It is difficult for them to answer that old gnawing question, “why them and not me?”

War is a terrible thing. No one knows that fact better than the American soldier. Without a doubt it is one of the worst traits of humanity for in it man shows his kinship with the animal world testing who among the strong will survive in the end and showing little or no remorse for killing those who oppose it. For some, there is little or no choice for they are attacked by the aggressor. They can stand and fight for what they believe and what they have invested themselves in for many years or they can lay down their arms and submit to those who would wage such an attack to achieve dominance. Given that scenario, maybe war is inevitable for mankind as long as some portion of humanity envies what another portion possess.

In its simplest form, war is a disagreement between two people which extends to all people within their charge and motivation. The anger and disagreement of the two principles is then imprinted on the populous such as to spread that anger to each individual bearing a weapon. The goal is to make that disagreement at the individual level just as strong for each of them as it is between the principles. In the end, those representing both sides use this emotion as the driving basis to kill each other on sight. Of course, all of that emotion is packaged in an atmosphere of training, discipline, and the threat of punishment for those who cannot carry out the orders as they are handed down. In the end, the choice of life or death is made at the highest level and handed down to the lowest.

War is also a realistic circumstance which cannot be avoided if the aggressors elect to ignore diplomacy and reason. At some point, those who are on the receiving end of those transgressions must either stand and fight or vacate the grounds they call their home. War, in this perspective, then is about principle, right and wrong. It is about the last resort in stopping some out of control aggression from wielding its dominance over a weaker population of people. It is a statement of intent…we will stand and fight for what is ours and for our beliefs as a people.

While still considered a strong and capable military force in the world, America is no longer the country that it once was in terms of war. As a population, we have lost our stomach for it. For many, there are no principles, no grounds, no beliefs worth defending with human blood and suffering. In past wars, the people of the USA watched in silence as thousands of young soldiers perished in a matter of minutes while assaulting the beaches of Normandy, France. This act of desperation was the last bastion of hope in stopping the Nazi machine and containing the slaughter which it promised. Thousands more died on the beaches of small islands in the Pacific attempting to stop that same aggression on the part of Japan. Again, America waited in silence and mourned those who had paid the price for progress in that war. It is no wonder the celebration was so great when that bloody war ended.

In the modern world, far too many of us believe that war can be waged with technology and not human blood. We believe that aggression can be stopped at a distance without contact or emotional suffering. We can kill the other man but we do not have to watch him die. On that basis, far too many in our population believe there is no need for soldiers on battlegrounds anymore. The soldier can be replaced by the technology. If that truth is ever reached, war will certainly be much easier to wage for those nations desiring to engage in it. The truth of the matter is that war is still very much about “boots on the ground” and “occupying strategic positions”. Though we have great levels of technology, none of it is as effective as the American soldier in getting the job done. All the science has yet to uncover a technology as potent as the American soldier in any situation. That truth will outlive the vast majority of us who populate this world.

Today, one would question whether America could take on such an effort, suffer such losses, and still sustain the momentum and support of the people to continue on to the final victory. Today, we have communications systems which serve the events up within minutes of their occurrence. Today, we have a media that breeds contempt for most every issue and certainly would find little to applaud in terms of the courage and bravery of the American fighting man in World War II. On the contrary, today’s media would be looking for every act within that effort that might point to the actions of an “evil empire” deadest on projecting its ideology on the rest of the world. In that assessment, the aggression of the Nazis and the Japanese would be lost on today’s front page story.

The lesson in this media perspective came through clearly in the Vietnam Conflict. Though technology was not comparable to today’s levels, it was certainly vastly improved over that of WWII. Americans were served up the events of the war on the dinner table each night. In the end, the media spent too little time questioning the purposes and goals of the involvement and too much time blaming those who had served their country for all that was not right in that effort. When it was all said and done, the American soldier was to blame for the outcome and the transgressions. Those who had paid the ultimate price were treated in the same light.

We have now reached a time in our history when, from a media perspective, there is no right or good time to defend America and if we do, we are wrong for trying. After the events of 9-11, Americans expected actions to be taken to offset the loss of 3,000 American citizens in that awful tragedy. Unlike wars of the past, the enemy was no so readily visible…he did not occupy particular ground…his existence was in an fanatical religious basis spread over the world by those who are convinced that America is an evil empire totally in violation of all the laws of Islam. The media damned a President for taking action in the act of fighting terrorism and that same media would have damned the same President for taking no action at all. There was no winning solution and once again the American soldier was painted a darker shade of gray in the press. Certainly the American public had learned a lesson in Vietnam and hopefully would never treat it soldiers in such fashion again. Still, the media could not help itself in questioning the direction of the American military in its war on terror.

Today, we have a society that is a greater melting pot of humanity than it has ever been. Millions have come to America seeking the benefits of living in this land but far too many of them have not embraced the values or the spirit of this nation that once fought so boldly to shake off the chains of oppression and tyranny. The common bond that pull us together as a people and weld us in resolve when times of war come are lacking to say the least. Through the actions of some in elected office with heavy support from the media, we are a nation immersed in political debate over class envy and warfare along with issues surrounding abortion, women’s rights, government intervention, environmental activism, and an ever-present effort to undermine our capitalistic structure. We no longer teach the fears of socialism, communism, Marxism, and the like to our children thus the promises of it are quickly embraced by them. Over time, we, as a nation, are losing our resolve; losing our ties to history; losing our common values, and eventually we will lose our way. Along with that, we will forget those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, justified or not, for the opportunities we have had as a people. Those changes are taking place before our eyes and as sure as the sun comes up tomorrow, they will come.

Our values are not so difficult to embrace. We were conceived as a nation on the basis of freedom, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Along the way, we disagreed on some matters of significance but in the end, we came together as a nation and a people and we took a direction that would continue to support our basic beliefs. For those who threatened those beliefs, we made provisions for our common defense and we showed the world that we were willing to stand and fight for that which was proper and right. Americans shed their blood on many battlefields of the world in support of those beliefs and in continuing an environment in which they could flourish. If, as a public, we are so easily convinced to give up on those principles, then all that blood is shed in vain, every last precious ounce of it.

For those mothers and fathers who have had that knock at the door which delivered the horrible news that their son or daughter had perished fighting in some far away land, the question will certainly always come to mind whether or not it was worth such a great loss personally. Most would probably say that it is not but most are also very proud that their loved one served the country to that final moment and they are most proud on a day such as this…Memorial Day 2012. Though we are a country immersed in controversy and torn in our values and goals, we can still take time to pause and offer a proud salute to the men and women who have so bravely sacrificed all in the support of this country. May we never forget their sacrifices and may we never allow anyone to convince us that our values and goals are not worth fighting for in the years to come.

Comments 26 comments

Very nice Hub, Wayne. To the Viet Nam veterans of my generation, a long past due "Thank You" and "Welcome Home". To all of the veterans and active duty service members, thank you for your service. For all of the Gold Star families, our hearts and our prayers go out to you on this Memorial Day and everyday.

It is so soon that we forget the sacrifices made by a few for the benefit of all of us. Today, we (and much of Europe) enjoy our day at the beach because of their day on a beach, Omaha Beach, June 6, 1944.

As the father of a recently commissioned Marine Corps Officer, I am filled with pride tempered by anxiety. I know the mission of the Marines. But, I also know my son, and he would ask 'If not him, then who?'

Voted up, awesome and shared.

Wayne Brown 4 years ago from Texas Author

@bankscottage...Thank you for those fine words and tributes to all. I am part of that service generation of the Vietnam Conflict. It is my hope that we never treat our soldiers in such a fashion again. Your son's question matches the same one I asked long ago when I did my military service. I felt that if it was good enough for my dad to make the assault at Utah Beach in WWII, then I too could serve. Service with Marines is that of the finest level and tradition. I pray that your son will do well there and remain safe from harm along with his peers. No doubt, he will be an even better person as a result as new challenges and adventures reveal themselves to him. One cannot witness the discipline, courage, and dedication of the Marines and not be proud to be a part of this great nation. WB

drbj 4 years ago from south Florida

This is a very thoughtful and compelling hub, Wayne, and I would hope that somehow every U.S. citizen would take your message to heart. But I fear, that despite our strides in technology, America will continue to be ruled by the 'industrial military complex' - there's just too damn much money and power involved.

Wayne Brown 4 years ago from Texas Author

@drbj...There is no doubt that the potential problem Eisenhower warned us of as he departed office is in full bloom and has been since the assassination of JFK. With that in mind, we can always figure that the military will always be pursuing the operating philosphy in vogue. In the 60's it was the containment of Communism. That momentum was lost with the end of the Cold War. With 9-11 came the advent of the war on terrorism, where we currently stand militarily. There are particular industries which feed this beast with new technology and weapons and it does amount to a great deal of money over time. Obama will use budget concerns to rip the military as much as possible but that can only go so far. The CIA has their pet directions and have flown well under the radar since their shennanigans of Vietnam. But never underestimate their propensity to protect their grounds. Those are the real things that control our policy and our direction...the rest is smoke and mirrors. Anyone who decides to go against that tide as Kennedy elected is opening doors that may lead to a traumatic ending. Thanks much, Doc. WB

WillStarr 4 years ago from Phoenix, Arizona

Wars are always fought between tyrants and freedom. As long as we have would-be tyrants, we will have wars.

Great Hub, Wayne, and thank all of you for your service.

teaches12345 4 years ago

A great hub tribute to our military who give up their personal freedom to protect ours. Perhaps one day, we will all just celebrate what once was and war will be no more.

Wayne Brown 4 years ago from Texas Author

@WillStarr...So very true yet we have so many who do not think we should address the issue until it comes to our own shores. Then, they will be the first to cry out as to why we have not stopped this evil before now. As you point out, this world will always have a Hitler or an Osama to contend with and there is only one choice in that regard. Thanks, Will. WB

@teaches12345...I truly believe that every military person past or active would love to see that day. Anyone who has been to war no longer desires to be a part of it unless circumstances offer no other viable solution. Certainly there are times in our history when manpower has been misued by those in power and those times will come again I am sure. For those who serve, they do it with duty and honor in both the good times and the bad. Thanks much! WB

Mr. Happy 4 years ago from Toronto, Canada

Greetings Mr. Wayne,

I cannot say that I am extremely happy about the following sentence: "We no longer teach the fears of socialism, communism, Marxism, and the like to our children thus the promises of it are quickly embraced by them." - No need to portray socialism as something to fear. Northern European countries (socialist ones) are in no way something to fear nowadays. Just my opinion.

"Over time, we, as a nation, are losing our resolve; losing our ties to history; losing our common values, and eventually we will lose our way. Along with that, we will forget those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice ..." - Here I would say that it is important that we live "with" our past, as in understanding our past and acknowledging it but we should not live "in" our past.

I have heard before some people say things such as: "I want my America back." And I begin to think: "Are You of the First Nations?"

Societies will continue to change. Such is Life in my opinion, it continues to flow and we, as humans have an incredible quality of adaptation. That is one of our greatest skills I think. We will live on, with capitalism or socialism or whatever else might be invented along the way ... we'll survive! : )

Cheers!

fpherj48 4 years ago from Beautiful Upstate New York

Wayne...Thank you for this. I have a great respect and admiration for all of our military, from the very beginning to today and always will. We owe them more than we can ever give them and yet they ask for so little. My Dad was a Marine during WWII.....my late husband spent his time in Viet Nam....My son is a Marine and was involved with Operation Iraqi Freedom....All of our troops are always in my heart and I make sure that I contribute when ever and where ever I am able. UP++

WillStarr 4 years ago from Phoenix, Arizona

"Northern European countries (socialist ones) are in no way something to fear nowadays."

Really? Most are bankrupt, and their massive debt is ready to topple the world economy. Ever heard of Greece, Portugal, Italy, and Spain?

Wayne Brown 4 years ago from Texas Author

@Mr. Happy....Thank you for your comments. My statement on the various 'isms' is directed more toward the philosphy than the countries living under it. America was established on the basis of freedom and it seems that when we step away from our basic values we begin to trade away those freedoms for the promise of false utopias. That is the fear that we, as a nation, are no longer instilling in our children and it is a very realistic one given the actions of those we currently have in high office in Washington. I am all for change and progress but not at the price of freedom, liberty, and the opportunity to improve our lot in life. Our history in America is a nation which desired a small government and very little government intervention...today we have the exact opposite with a man seeking re-election who desires nothing more than to grow that government even larger and make it the center of the universe for all citizens of this country. He desires to have the people serve the government...not the government serve the people as it should be. With that growth comes more and more entitlement which is nothing more than the false promises of socialism. Too many have shed their blood to avoid that circumstance and as a nation we can never forget that nor can we give it up either. WB

@fpherj48...You have much to be proud of with that long line of service to the country. Those serving in our military have never asked for much and they deserve much more than they get across the board. They simply desire respect for the service they provide and that is not too much in my mind. Thanks for the good words. WB

@WillStarr...We are walking in their footprints now, Will. Obama will finish the job if he can get re-elected. WB

Wayne Brown 4 years ago from Texas Author

@fpherj48...It must have come through while I was out of town and out of touch last week. I will get right over and read it! WB

Angela Blair 4 years ago from Central Texas

Wayne - As a small child I sat with the adults and listened to the radio reporting the attack on Pearl Harbor and the U.S. declaration of WWII. All the adults cried so I did, too -- although I didn't understand what we were crying about. Eventually I did understand the gold stars placed in the windows of families whose members were killed in that war and the honor and reverence shown by everyone for those stars was intense. I witnessed the delivery of the dreaded telegrams received by many announcing the death of their loved ones and watched the male members of my family go off to war wanting to serve and honored to be accepted. Some of them returned -- some didn't -- and America downed it's head and pushed on when that war was over. It was indeed the Greatest Generation. I honor them and all the men who've fought in every war to keep this great nation alive -- the debt we owe them can never be repaid. It's the opinion of this old lady that the U.S. needs a good shot in the arm of plain, old patriotism -- and this Hub is exactly that. Thank you so very much. Best/Sis

Mr. Happy 4 years ago from Toronto, Canada

Greetings once again Mr. Wayne,

thank You for the conversation. I agree with You that change and progress should not come at the cost of freedom or opportunity. I suppose progress in my mind means more opportunity, actually (and not less).

I personally do not care about more or less government as long as it is a government which represents the common man and not lobbyists working for multinational corporations. I also would not care about more or less government if there wasn't such waste and there would actually be accountability as to where the taxpayers' money is going to - not like the black-holes which seems to exists in most governments, world-wide.

"false promises of socialism" - Again, here I would say to take a look at how societies in Northern Europe are doing. Check-out the standard of living and education for example, in Finland. There are factual things to be looked at and perhaps there are "false promises" as well. I would rather focus on what already exists, what can be improved and on how we can adapt to the socio-economic changes which are taking place.

"Too many have shed their blood" - Not to be disrespectful in any way but too many Native Americans, people of the First Nations (the original inhabitants of this land - Turtle Island as it was once called) have also died in trying to preserve their way of Life. Perhaps clinging on to things isn't working ... Just my opinion.

All the best!

Wayne Brown 4 years ago from Texas Author

@Angela Blair...You have a wonderful story to tell there, Angela and you should write it in detail in a hub. Folks need to experience those emotions that you saw first hand. I can tell by your comment that you could easily write that story. Thanks much for the good words and keep supporting our military. WB

@Mr. Happy...I totally agree on the plight of the Native North American. Much injustice was hand out at the direction of a few starting with a federal government which ordered the Indians to be removed from their lands so it could be utilized by the white man. Not a pretty sight at all. In terms of government size, I think it is really all about the costs. At present, the US federal government takes in just about enough revenue to cover the expense of entitlements ranging from Social Security / Medicare to welfare programs of various types and that list grows larger as the government grows larger. Section 8 Housing support is totally out of control in the USA and far too many people are living almost rent free just because they can apply for it and get it in too many cases. The government is offering programs so broad that it is crippling a nation of people who could otherwise work and provide for their own welfare as many before them have. There is no longer any pride or self-respect when it appears there is free government cheese to be handed out. Ultimately, this is politicians buying votes with taxpayer money. The answer to the problem is to raise taxes although there is no way to raise taxes to cover the other $1.2 trillion dollars still on the table to support the military and government functionality. While we sit here waiting to finanacially implode from the total mishandling of taxpayer revenue since the 60's, our government continues to spend more money and borrow more money as if it does not matter. At this point, I do not think it is really a question of "ism" so much as it is a question of fiscal sanity. There are far too many lined up to get on the government dole in elected office with six figure salaries and little accountability...seeming the far reaching dream of every attorney in America. In their time in office, they pork-barrel and earmark money right and left and generally leave things worse than they found them as the American people sit apathetically by and let it continue to go on because some other mass of pied pipers show up with the same sad sack of promises only theirs are new and improved and guaranteed to delivery. In the private sector, people go to jail for such shenannigans and the government is the usually the party putting them there. The citizens of the USA have been the victim of the world's greatest ponzi scheme with the handling of Social Security and Medicare and no one goes to jail thanks in great part to the efforts of LBJ and his Great Society. At its heart, our system works and works well if the government can get off its back and stop the over-regulation and the sad attempts at creating jobs. Government does not create jobs, it can only nurture the environment in which they are created by the private sector and the growth thereof. Everything that has gone on in the USA since 2008 has worked against that progress and now we face the potential of four more years of that knowing full well that the dismantling of our military will be in full swing once the election is over. This is what people mean when they say they want their country back...they want a return to sanity. Thanks much for the comments. WB

Sparrowlet 4 years ago from Massachusetts, USA

Very insightful hub! Gives us a lot to think about and consider. I happen to agree with almost every point you make!

Wayne Brown 4 years ago from Texas Author

@Sparrowlet...I am certainly not the guy who knows everything. At the same, I am the guy wants to see the silent majority of America rise up and take this country back in 2012. Our military stands ready to support whoever occupies the highest office of this land as they should. At the same time, far too many of us want our country back and want to see the American taxpayer and voter included in the process of running this country. Thanks much for the good words. WB

RealHousewife 4 years ago from St. Louis, MO

Hey WB - many great points to think about. I do know things have changed greatly with regard to the race to go to war. I do think sometimes it has been necessary and thank goodness for every single soul that met the need for everyone. What a horrible exsisentence for so many and their families.

I shared a post card on Facebook = it had a photo of a young lady, obviously mourning as she lay over a grave of a young man - the caption read "for all of you who thought this was National BBQ Day"....yeah don't forget!

Up and everything!

Wayne Brown 4 years ago from Texas Author

@RealHousewife...That was a great postcard, Kelly and so very true of such observations as Memorial Day. But, ironically, the same ones who will shrug off the observation of it will also demonstrate against the use of the military when all else has failed. The message it sends is "there is nothing worth fighting and dying for." Thanks much. WB

"There are far too many lined up to get on the government dole in elected office with six figure salaries and little accountability...seeming the far reaching dream of every attorney in America." - I think You nailed the point here Mr. Wayne! I was just thinking the other day about the fat cats in government ... It was exactly two days ago I heard how the Supreme Court judges are soon going on their summer vacation like all other politicians and I thought: "Summer vacation?" Where is the summer vacation for every common man? Where is your paid summer vacation Mr. Wayne? Or where is mine? ... Why do they get all these perks, when like You well wrote: "In their time in office, they pork-barrel and earmark money right and left and generally leave things worse than they found them"?

I can certainly agree with You that a system needs to be put in place to keep track of what civil servants are doing. People say that if students are performing bad, teachers should not get paid. With that thought in mind, when politicians are creating a gridlock and nothing is getting done (except increasing the debt), they should not get paid. No vacation, no nothing ... not until things start getting done. It's very much the same up-here in Canada too ... There are mostly all crooks involved in politics and they are in it for their own benefit and not much else.

Thank You for the conversation. All the best!

Wayne Brown 4 years ago from Texas Author

@Mr. Happy...I am not an expert on Section 8 Housing either but I have seen enough of it to realize that it has destroyed many rental properties. I have seen two sizeable apartment complexes near by bulldozed because they were so destroyed. My wife works as a property manager for a California investment partnership. One house they owned in California rented for $1100 per month. The tenant had to pay $100 per month and the government paid the other $1000. The woman also had a job which added to the confusion. She never even bothered to pay her portion of the rent and the partnership finally was able to evict her after six months of legal wrangling. Another property my wife manages is a large executive two-story home which leases for $1800 per month. She was approached by an applicant who wanted to know if she could accept Section 8 rent on the house...really a four bedroom home???? I was quite unaware of this "entitlement" until I began to look around and see all the landlords flocking to get approved for it so the could get their rent from the government rather than chasing individuals....I will see if I can find some find figures on it. With regard to the tent cities, my experience there is that many of them are formed by homeless types congregating. They will not use shelters and they do not seek permanent housing....lots of issues...drugs, alcohol, depression, mental illness. Here again, the only solution any politician can come up with is tho throw money at it...just like education. The way I look at things, if the people do not take a part in the supervision of government, there is no supervision. At present, it is up to the people to write Senator Harry Reid's annual appraisal but yet it goes unwritten and he has no accountability for his acts of defiance against the Constitution. Reid is a problem but public apathy is a bigger problem. Thanks much. WB

Wayne Brown 4 years ago from Texas Author

@Mr. Happy...Just an added observation...I worked in a job for a while in which I had to conduct some studies on public transit buses while they were rolling. I usually took the more heavily loaded routes. I remember, in particular, I caught a 5AM Los Angeles route that originated in downtown Los Angeles. I rode the empty bus with the driver to the downtown starting point. When we arrived there, I thanked God that I did not have to get out of the bus. The downtown streets had various homeless types sleeping in doorways, on benches, etc. There were makeshift fires burning all about. This was before sunrise and most of it probably disappeared with the rising sun then came back late in the evening. We look at these people and wonder if losing their unemployment benefit drove them there...I think not for if that was the case, the uemployment benefit was likely going for wine or drugs in the first place so how much good was it doing. Our safety nets which the government attempts to devise are too often aimed at "protecting a fool from himself" which is damn near an impossible thing to do short of killing him. The process also creates a lot of "cripples" who take a temporary situation and want to turn it into a permanent entitlement. If I have not found any form of work in three months that meets my career skills, I am going to take any form of work out there to survive....not expect the government just to continue to support me. If I do that, at some point, I quit looking and just accept the government dole as my answer. We can do better but our politicians insist on "buying votes" with taxpayer money. Oh...I didn't get a paid summer vacation either. Do you suppose they get a "winter vacation" as well...probably so. Thanks much. WB

ImKarn23 4 years ago

pride...i wonder if it can ever possibly be enough - the one or 2 moments a year we are 'reminded' to pay tribute to our troops, past and present. i cannot imagine, nor do i care to - losing a child under any circumstances! It's just nauseating..my 31 year old daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 10. it is like a small personal war in that one never knows what the effects are - mentally and physically - but we know that the longer we're 'fighting' - the higher the risk..

ps..wayne brown hits the major problem right on the head - public apathy is spreading - allowing for even more corruption and select personal gain..

Wayne Brown 4 years ago from Texas Author

@ImKarn23...I share your war as our son was diagnosed as a Type I diabetic when he was 11 yrs of age. He is approaching 26 now. For a long time, he was apathetic about the condition and it almost killed him. Now he has done a 180, takes care of himself, and eats correctly in order to better manage the sugar levels. He is trying very hard to become a police officer...a dream he has held for a long time. He also wanted to be in the military but they would not take him. For the shock it was to his mother and I, we can never really know what he has endured in the process. I wrote about this in I hub I called "The Lucky Ones" if you care to read it. Thanks much for the good words. WB